McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) is cautiously optimistic about the impact the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) recently signed into law by President Donald Trump could have in the fight against the coronavirus crisis.

“It seems like it will be a lot of help and has something for everyone,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “It will help those now unemployed, giving them the opportunity to receive enough money to get by without losing their home, a car or anything major like that. I really hope it gets the economy back moving.”

The $2.2 trillion economic rescue package also provides help for small businesses, hospitals, local governments and others entities, with many individuals also set to receive up to $1,200 in economic recovery checks with an additional $500 for each dependent.

The Older Americans Act also allocates some $820 million in funding for senior meals services and family caregiver programs, while funding for child nutrition programs like TEFAP (food pantry funding) comes in at $450 million to go with another $15.5 billion set aside for added SNAP funding.

Student loan payments are also suspended over the next six months and in Illinois, $25 billion has been allocated to keep federal transit moving and unemployment assistance is also extended for up to four months. A Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program also has been created through the end of the year that offers an additional $600/week in unemployment benefits for up to four months.

Small businesses are pegged to receive a $350 billion injection through the creation of a new Paycheck Protection Loan program and overrun hospitals and health care providers are set to receive $100 billion in direct, emergency funding. Finally, some $150 billion has been earmarked for local governments with populations topping 500,000.

“I’m not sure how we’re going to pay for it all, but it’s what’s needed right now,” Ugaste said. “There are also loans available to help businesses, especially if they are able to keep their people through the crisis. The hope is this will be enough to carry us through until another day.”

Ugaste said keeping people’s spirits up is as big a challenge as there is to overcoming the crisis.

“I tell people to keep faith and keep upbeat because once we get through this rough part, we’ll be able to get back to life being normal,” he said. “That starts with listening to government and doing what we’re being told to do.”